According to report released by the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS), the government’s preliminary data showed that the country’s steel imports totaled 2.579 million tons in this January, rising by 4.6% year on year while falling by 8.4% year on year.

The imports of semi-finished steel products totaled 473,000 tons, decreasing by 2.8% year on year.

David Phelps, the president of AIIS pointed out that the improved steel imports in January were boosted by the fact that several buyers and distributors delayed purchases to January because of inventory tax costs at the end of December.